Champagne Supernova

Name: RJ

Song that changed your life: Oasis - Champagne Supernova(listen now) (lyrics)

The story behind it:

Not so long ago, walking into a room of more than 2 people would have made me physically sick. I would get so nervous and so self conscious at the thought of it, that my life was unbearable. Going to college became impossible because I couldn't walk into a class full of people if I was late. I'd always been known as the quiet one which was fine when I was younger, but it started getting in the way as I got older. I didn't know what to do about my shyness. I was fine with friends and family. But with any other group I was a wreck and it was crippling me.

Around the height of my anxiety I was watching comic relief and I remember crying when a song was preformed becaus it was so heartfelt. The next day it was the talking point at school and it gave me the opportunity to talk to someone properly. That someone was a teacher and she helped to change my entire outlook on life. She worked with me for months after our initial chat. Helping me to see I could be more confident and boosting my self esteem. If I had never chatted with her about the performance of that song, I would still be shy today. I can still be very quiet and I'm not great amongst crowds, but I'm now a lot more confident within myself.

Breath Me

Name: Erica

Song that changed your life: Sia - Breath Me (listen now)(download) (lyrics)

The story behind it:

This song evokes many emotions about my mom who passed away 8 years ago today.

My mom was a brilliant woman, with so much potential, so much passion, so much conviction. She could have done anything with her life. She was outwardly powerful, extremely opinionated, and could at times be somewhat intimidating. But in reality, she was scared. She was lost. She had all the tools to be this highly successful person, but she wanted coddling. She wanted to be held. She was scared to move forward. There would be times where it seemed she took strides forward, but then she would lose herself. She couldn't quite make it to the top. In reality, all she wanted was to be loved. She had so much love in her life, but she wanted more. She needed to be the focus, but was not willing to reciprocate that need. She tried so hard: she tried to be a good mother, and she was. She tried to be a good wife, she wanted to be a faithful friend. She tried to be the lifeof the party, the beautiful woman with the long blond hair. But when she couldn't be that person all the time, she turned into a little lost girl. In the end, she died thinking she was a lost cause. We, her family, know differently.

Breathe Me, to me, is about somoene who is lost. Someone who tries and tries, but gets knocked down everytime, no matter what. Somoene who is so fragile that any bad time or dip breaks her. Someone who tries to cope, tries to live, tries to thrive, but always ends up broken. Someone who just wants to be held and be told that everything will be alright.

This is a very special song for me on so many levels. There are many songs that evoke emotion, whether it's a song from my childhood or a song that played at my wedding, but this song is so powerful to me because it haunts me every single time I hear it.

My mom was an amazingly brave and talented woman, and she is extremely missed. Everytime I hear Breathe Me I think of her and her life and how much I love her.

Move Along

Name:

Song that changed your life:
All American Rejects - Move Along (listen now) (lyrics)


The story behind it:

Me and my boy...

Me and my boyfriend [ex now] broke up after 1 year and a half and we had a bad break up. We haven't spoken in 8 months now. After the break up, music was the only thing that could keep me quiet and it became a shrink for me in a way. I listened to The All-American Rejects 24/7 because they have amazing break up lyrics, confident lyrics and they are my favorite band.

I quote from the Move Along song "When all you've got to keep is strong, move along, move along, like I know you do, and even when your hope is gone, move along, move along, just to make it through" those words helped me.

I no longer think of my ex as that dumb guy who broke my heart I think of him as a big spike in the road and I jumped over it with scratches that were mended. Move Along is an amazing song and it speaks the most to me, and the whole All-American Reject CD's have the greatest songs I think for break ups or any "tragic" moment in your life.

If Your Girl Only Knew

Name: Annie

Song that changed your life: Aaliyah - If Your Girl Only Knew (listen now) (lyrics)

The story behind it:

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK You!

Oh my GOD, fuck you. What in the hell is wrong with you? Why do you look at me all night & say NOTHING. Why, when you literally run in to me by the restrooms, wouldn't you stop for even a second to to say something, anything more than "hi" as you rush past me? WORST yet...how can you make a point of coming over to I was dancing and make a huge deal of saying good bye to my friend & completely & utterly ignore my existence!!!? What the FUCK? Do I seriously turn invisible when she's around? I'm thinking not, considering how many times I saw your eyes glued to me on the dance floor. Are you that fucking scared of her actually grabbing a clue & kicking your sorry ass to the curb? 'Cause honestly? If she hasn't figured it out yet then she's not all that bright to begin with & she's never gonna catch on. And, since we're on the subject... wtf is her problem? All night with the sideways looks from her beady little eyes. You know what sugar? We're NOT friends! We've never BEEN friends! So get over the fact that your boyfriend crushed on some girl you don't know & she crushed right back. If you trust him (and I'm really sorry if you do) then GET OVER IT. If you don't, quit staring at me & point your icy glares in another direction. It is not now, nor has it ever been MY job to protect your relationship. And yes, I was ready to try to wipe the slate with you - if only because it's been getting awkward in certain situations, but you know what? I don't want to be your friend. Even if you turned out to be an amazing person (which from the way you look down on my friends & I can't really picture being the case) I STILL wouldn't want to be your friend, because really, why would I want to carry around that kind of guilt? I would, however, like you to see your sig-other grow a pair & maybe manage to say hi to me in front of you.

Tender

Name: Natasha

Song that changed your life: Blur - Tender (listen now) (lyrics)

The story behind it:

My brother has been going through a really rough patch in his life since his relationship with his girlfriend fell apart. Despite the fact that he would give his life and soul for those two kids. I didn't really know how to help him, so I just tried t be there for him. At night he would get through his lonliness with his music. One time, when I was around at his place, he was making a photo collage of his sons while he listened to the stereo. It was one of the most emotional moments I've ever witnessed. When one particular song came on I just held him and we cried together. It was the first time he had let all his emotions go and though the hard times are not over, I know that one day his sons will be able to appreciate how much love he has for them. I know that that song that we listened to that night wil help him get through it

Crazy For You

Name: Jenny

Song that changed your life: Madonna - Crazy For You (listen now) (lyrics)

The story behind it:

I just turned 18 and havent had the easiest time with relationships. All of them have ended in tears and one ended up so badly that I completely lost all my trust in men. At the time I felt very unlucky that I couldn't hold down a proper relationship and I became very depressed. I couldn't face school and so I dropped out. But then I couldn't get any work and because of that I had no money. One day I felt so rotten that something snapped inside me... I decided to get a job. Luckily I found one and after I had been working there for a few months I met a georgeous guy that I instantly felt attracted to. I didn't know what to do though and because my past relationships had ended so badly that I didn't want to make the first move. Until, that is, I heard this song, which made me want to just go for it. All I can say now is that we've been together ever since. I am happier than I've ever been, I'm in love, I've learned to trust again, and best of all on my birthday last year he proposed.

Love Story

Name: Emma

Song that changed your life: Layo And Bushwacka - Love Story (mp3 link) (lyrics)

The story behind it:

No matter what happened throughout my life I always believed that I would find my soul mate, but the end of a five year relationship meant that I had lost my faith in that. It got me down for a while but I managed to pull myself together and realize that life was there to be lived. I made a big effort to spend lots of time with my friends and we had some great weekends having loads of fun together. My sister was living abroad at the time and my new found freedom gave me the chance to go and visit her. While I was there I met an English guy who was out there working and we got along really well, immeadiately. I ended up spending a lot of time with him. One night we were on a beach, we lit a fire, we looked up at the stars, and we chatted right through until morning. It was the perfect romantic night. When my holiday came to an end we were both really gutted, but we did arrange to meet up when he came back. Obviously I really wanted that to happen, but I was quite realistic about it all and I didn't expect to hear from him again.

When I landed back home I turned my phone on to a text message that said, "I hope everything that we said comes true. I miss you already." We did get together and ultimately we traveled again and by the end of our next trip we were totally loved up. We got married a year ago and we now have a lovely daughter together.

My song reminds me of the vacation where I first met my soul mate.

Thumbing My Way

Name:

Song that changed your life: Pearl Jam - Thumbing My Way (mp3 link) (lyrics)

The story behind it:

I became a Pearl Jam fan in 2003. And when I fell in love with the music, I
fell hard.

In 2004, I started law school...and only a few months later, I learned that
I had cancer. It was something I knew I had to get through, but it was
overwhelming.

One song, in particular, was calming... The lyrics are "...no matter how cold
the winter, there's a springtime ahead."

Pearl Jam's music is full of inspiring lyrics and stellar tunes, but
Thumbing My Way has become the song in my head and my heart.
If you haven't heard it, change that...

The Gambler

Name: Melissa

Song that changed your life: Kenny Rogers - The Gambler (listen now) (lyrics)

The story behind it:

I used to listen to it over an over when I was living in my apt on the upper east side, after [my ex boyfriend] attacked me, it was the only thing i could do to calm myself down enough to go to sleep... I would sit up in bed looking at the door terrified that he was going to knock it down. Those were also the days I was doing a lot of drugs. So now when I listen to it, i get this sad feeling inside of how sad i was then, but then so grateful at how far my life has come since those days. Im not joking it still makes me cry when i hear it. Music moves our souls.

She Lives In My Lap

Name: Maggie

Song that changed your life: Outkast - She Lives In My Lap (lyrics)

The story behind it:

My boyfriend and i had just started dating seriously (way before any i love you's or anything like that) and one night we got high and were just lying in my bed listening to the entire cd of "the love below". When "She lives in my lap" came on, he turned to me and said, "this song makes me think of you and i can't get it out of my head." That was three years ago... it was a very telling moment.